By the way, I should have added, when defending the Previews on this particular game, that there is at least one review out there already.

Game Informer supposedly has given Top Spin scores of 9.0 and 8.75.

Reports of the new issue of EGM indicate three 9.0 scores for Top Spin, with quotes like...

"...this is probably the best tennis game I've ever played".

"Might as well call it Virtual Tennis 3"

I didn't want to create a new thread, because I doubt it will get many replies, but Top Spin 4 is coming out next week (out of nowhere!)

As usual, the lineups have some real eyebrow raisers: Bernard Tomic? Gilles Simon? I know who these players are, but why in the world would they get chosen for a video game? I haven't even heard of one of the women players (Eugenie Bouchard).

Anyway I preordered

I loved the demo and will get the retail. Though I agree there are some headscratchers (no Monfils..the continued love for Blake), I think it is by far the best roster ever with the additions of Lendl, Sampras, Agassi, etc.. It is pretty much only missing Connors and Mac and I am sure they are contracted to EA.

Regardless, I am definitely getting this game unless the reviews are just brutal.

I have it preordered as well.

Any demos out there? The last Top Spin I enjoyed was the first. (appropriate given the thread that's been bumped lol)

Yes, demo is out on Live and PSN

Here's the Live link: Top Spin 4

$20 credit at Amazon helps. I like this better than last years dual stick operation which I was never quite coordinated enough to get.

Found out last week that I'll be reviewing Top Spin 4 for 360 (we are also getting MLB 2k11 as well). Honestly, I haven't played a tennis game since Hot Shot Tennis. Hopefully, it will be a lot of fun. My only worry is that most of the tennis games I have played have been on the arcadey side. The first time I see a 100mph+ serve come screaming down the pike and I have to react, I might be in trouble. *fingers crossed for good controls*

I thought the gameplay in the demo was a mix of Top Spin and Virtua Tennis. There isn't as big a learning curve and the control scheme is more simple. That being said, I thought it was too easy, even on hard difficulty. I was never worried about committing an error.

Also, Federer's serving motion is terribly mimicked, doesn't look anything like his real motion.

It sounds like people here who are playing the demo aren't playing it with the Move controller. I am, so I'll chime in...

A couple of years ago a version of this game was released for the Wii system and I found it enjoyable, but frustrating. The Wii remote is used with the nunchunk and since they are connected with a wire it was awkward to move the Wii remote and make good shots.

The Sony Move version essentially plays the same, but is more refined with better graphics and more shot selections and more options. The Sony navigation controller is used and since it is wireless, the game is much easier and more enjoyable to play. The navigation controller moves your player around the court and determines certain shots while the Move wand is used like a tennis racquet.

I had my doubts that the game would be very good, but so far so good. The demo only lets you play a tiebreaker game of seven points, so who knows what else the game holds. With the Amazon discount this will be an easy buy for me.

Can't wait!

How is this coming along?

Been playing Top Spin 4 for about an hour now, and here are my thoughts.

It seems like the developers took players' complaints to heart about Top Spin 3's difficulty. As a result, we have what appears to be the latest iteration of Virtua Tennis rather than the more realistic Top Spin franchise. Errors are few and far between, no matter how difficult the shot would be in real life. If I wanted to I could win every point in 2 or 3 shots, as rallies are difficult to maintain (even with the CPU on hard). Balls are crushed at crazy angles and high speed/heavy topspin, ala Virtua Tennis. The comparison to Virtua Tennis doesn't end there.
The graphics seem to have been downgraded somehow. The players look cartoony...UNLIKE Virtua Tennis though, TS4 does a terrible job of mimicking the players' service motions and groundstrokes. VT did an exceptional job of that.

Furthermore, I think it absolutely sucks that you can only play with the pros in exhibition matches. Tournament mode has even been removed. You know what would be awesome? To have the Top 100 players from both the men's and women's tours that you can take on in a career mode. You should be able to play as them season after season, and should be able to upgrade their skills through practice games (naturally their skills would deteriorate as they got older). I have absolutely no idea why they continue to do pick some of the most random handful of players and only let you play them in exhibition matches.

You know what would also make the game awesome? Commentary. Hire Brad Gilbert, Johnny Mac, Pat McEnroe, Cliff Drysdale..someone (anyone but Dick Enberg) and have them commentate during the match, and have some sort of pre and post match analysis.

The interface is very bare and simple, and it makes you feel like there's not a whole lot of depth to the game...unfortunately that is true.

While it's fun to play, there's sooo much room for improvement. Glad this only cost me $10 (had Amazon credit).

^^ Fuck! Wish I would have read this before I unwrapped mine. Despite the $20 credit I'm already bummed I bought it. Shit day for gaming when it should have been superb; both Homefront and Top Spin sound like letdowns. Bring on Crysis 2.

Sounds pretty lame. I think I will forego picking up my pre-order and just stick to Top Spin 2 for my tennis fix when I need it.

I consider myself the most negative and critical sports gamer there is...and I am not understanding the disappointment with TS4. I think it is a great game so far.

I might rent it sometime in the future, or buy it if it drops to $20 within the year. I enjoyed Top Spin 2, but that's the last game in the series I've played. Tennis games are pretty fun, though I don't have much interest in watching televised events.

During the match would be awesome, but pre/post segments are something that are bound to get skipped... all the time. However, I doubt tennis games sell well enough to afford hiring those guys.

I'm also enjoying the game quite a bit. I'm playing the Sony version and I'm having a great time swinging that Move controller and working up a little bit of a sweat.

Im going controller only, but I still don't see how someone can be disappointed. Tons of strategy, great controls, amazing animations, etc...

I agree. The overall average score for the game is 87% with seven reviews so far. Definitely not a purchase that I've regretted.

Well to be more clear about what I said a few days ago...it's not a bad game at all, in fact I enjoy it. There's just so much room for improvement. I would give it an 8.0/10 myself.

Well marketing finally sent the game to my site and it looks like I'll be getting it Monday. Hopefully I get to it soon enough, I have 4 dvds to review ahead of it. (he likes to load me up every once in a while heh). Anywho, if anybody wants to try their hand at a contest for the PS3 version, we are holding one at the site listed below. I know its way late, but hey...it's still a game